Key puller



Aug. 19, 1952 v. N. LABOUNSKY KEY FULLER Filed Feb. 12, 1947 fiQQ 8 a 8 Ml M M R0 Y 5% N R wmfi mm m V w M w 6 a n m n y w m 9 Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED PATENT OFFICE v 1 P21601110 v v KEY FULLER V g Vladimir N. Labounsky, New York, N. Y.

Application February 12, 1947', Serial No. 728 ,05 1

such as those employed to look a gear, wheel, or the like upon a shaft. I

Those whose duty it is to maintain heavy rotating machinery are fully aware of the difiiculties of removing keys such as those employed to lock gears, wheels, and other rotating parts to shafts. Frequently, in the process of'removing a keyfthe projecting end of the key either breaks off or becomes so damaged as to make removal by means of pulling extremely difficult if not impossible. 7

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide an improved clamp which Will be particularly useful in the removal of keys.

Another'object is to provide an improvedkeypulling device which will be adaptable to a variety' of key sizes and types and to a variety of types ofinstallations, such as-gears, wheels, and other rotating parts of different configurations.

It is still a further object to provide a keypulling device which may meet the above objections even for relatively heavy machinery and at the same time be simple, readily portable, and easy to operate.

Other objects and various further features of the invention will be pointed out or Will occur to those skilled in the art from a readingof the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clamping device-incorporating features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially sectionalized side'view of the clamp of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a right-end elevation of the clamp of Fig. 1-.

Broadly speaking, my invention contemplates a clamp in which a first means is provided for adjustably closing jaws,- say upon a key to be removed, and in which second adjustable means exert substantially greater forces to increase the strength of the bite of the jaws. *Jacking-means are provided for exertingjacking forces against the gear wheel or the like from which the key is to be removed. In the specific form to be described, the jacking means includes three jacking screws'providing tripodsupport for the application of jacking forces. In order that the exertion of jacking forces will not harm the gear or wheel from which the key is t be removed, the jacking screws are formed with self-aligning foot portions of substantial area.

Referring to the drawings, my invention is shown in application to a clamp including a to an improved clamp, and'in particular to a clamp for removing keys,"

]4 Claims. (01. 29-250) 7 for the jaw members 1-8 is adjustable.

frame member 5 having a longitudinally extending slot 6 therein. A pair of clamping jawmem bers 1-8 is pivotally supported by the frame member-5; these jaw members arepartiallyreceived in the slot 6. Each of the jaw members includes a biting portion S-IG, which may be provided with serrations or teeth for clamping upon a key II to be removed-J The biting ser- 1 rations or teeth are preferably upwardly directed (in the sense and as shown in the drawings).* The biting portions -9-l0 preferably project but a relatively little distance beyond one side of thef slot 6. To the'other'side of the slot G-the jaw members 7-8 project a relatively greater distance to provide jack arms for the-acommoda tion, at or near the extremities l2-l3, of means for spreading these extremities apart. In the form shown, the spreading means includes a screw member [4 threadedly receivable inone of the jaw members 8 and projecting into abutment with the other jaw member 1. For better alignment of the screw l4, its end is rounded to fit within a concave portion I5 in the jaw end I2.

In accordance with a feature of the invention,- the separation between points of pivotal support This function maybe accomplished by journalling one jaw member 7' in the frame member 5, as by means of a pin I6, and by adjustably positioning the other jaw member 8. In the form shown, the jaw member 8 may rock about the curved end of a slide member II, slidable in longitudinally extending ways on the frame member-5 and the back of the jaw member 8 may be cutaway, as at is, with a concave recess to receive" the" curved end of the slide I1. be adjustably. positioned by a longitudinally 'ex--' tending screw'threaded in oneend of the frame member 5, and spring means 20 may serve constantly to urge the jaw member '8 toward the adjustable positioning means [1-19. In the form shown, the ways for the slide member" are provided by longitudinal slots 2| formed in the frame member 5. g j

As indicated above, I also provide means for jacking my clamp as a whole once the jaws 9-") have been set upon a key or the like. The jack-j ing means 'may provide tripodsupport, as by means of a first transversely extending screw 22 threaded in the end of the frame member 5 0pposite the jaw-positioning screw i9, and by means of two further screws 23-24 straddling the frame 5. In the form shown, the jack screws 23-24 are threaded in bosses 25-26 forming parts of a yoke 21, pivotally attached (as by the The slide '11 may pin 28) to the jaw member 8, and extending in clearance relation with and around the frame 5. The lower ends of the jack screws 22-23--24 may be provided with self-aligning feet 29 including ball-and-socket joints 3!! and having enlarged footing areas for better distribution of jacking forces.

In operation, I recommend that the above-described clamp be used in the following manner in order to remote a key from its docking engagement'with a shatter the likeand with a gear, wheel, or the like. The jaws 9-") are spread sufiiciently, by backing the adjustable means t p n a key H, with the framei transverse to the sliding axis of the key I I and with the jack arms I 2l3 projecting more -or less along this axis. The screw- IS-is then tightwrench to the outwardly projecting end thereof. The jaw-spreading screw 14 may next be tightened,.,again: as muchas manually possib1e althoughin manyoases alight setting of the screw M; will snfiice. The-clamp is'then substantially set and it-remainsto apply jacking forces-by adjustmentof the jackscrews 2223 24.

It will bez-nnderstoodthat, no matter how irregularthe surfaces against the screws 22-.- -23-.24 must work may be, the feet 29 may adapt-themselves readily so as to provide a properly aligned jacking axis. It will also be under-- stood thatas jaoking forces begin to be applied, the-upwardlyedirected; (inthe sense'of the drawings) teeth of; thejaws 9-'i0 may dig into the key to per-mitgreater tightening of. the screw I4,-with anincrease in effectiveness of the grip ofthe jawsS-Ili. I V

It-will be appreciatedthat I have described a relativelysimple means for applying tremendous forces first to grip and then to jack. Even in application: to keys employed inheavy machinery, the clamp mechanism may be made readily portable.-- The device is easy to operate and adaptable to a .widevariety of types and sizes of keys or the like. V

Although I. have described my invention in detail for the preferred form shown, it will be in thecscopeotthe invention asdefined in the 2. A clamp according to claim 1, in which further jacking means are provided in the end of said frame opposite from the jaw to which said first-mentioned jacking means are applied, whereby the net jacking thrust provided by all said jacking means may be aligned generally normal to the bite of said jaws.

3. In a clamp having a pair of coacting jaw members, each jaw member being provided with a biting portion, aframememb'er having a longitudinally extending slot, oneo'f said jaw members being receivable in said slot for rockable and slidable movement, the biting portion of said jaw projecting from one side of said slot and a jacking portion projecting from the other side of said'slot; pivotalsupport means on said frame w member for saidmovable jaw member, adjustened as much as possible, as by applying a able positioning means for the pivotal support means longitudinally movable on said frame understood that modifications may be-made withclaims. whichfollo-W. l

I claim:-

1. lnaclamp, a framernember havinga longi--- members in saideslot with the bitingportions relatively close tosaid supporting means-adjust ablemeanslfonspreadingsaid jack arms, whereby substantiallmechanic'al advantage maybe obi-.

tainedin the gripping. of said bitingportions, a

yoke member pivot-ally supported from one of'saidjaw members for movement about an sub} stantially parallel with the axis of the p-ivotale support means and encompassinga part of said framefmember, said yoke member including jackingjmeans for exerting jacking forces generall'y normal to the biteof'lsaid' jaw members.

member, and a pair of spaced jacking means to exert-force in. a direction generally normal to the-:bitingportions, one. of said-jacking means being pivotally supported on said one jawmember.

4. In a clamp-having a .pair of coacting jaw members, eachejawmember beingprovided with slot, a second slot in said frame member disposedgenerally at-a right angle to said first slot,- a slide memberrin said second slot and engageable with 1 said movablejawmember to provide pivotal support therefor, adjustablemeans carried on said frame membertbehind said slidemember and inengagement .with it for adjustably' longitudinally positioning saidmovable-jaw member, and a pair of. spaced jacking means to exert force in a direction generally normal to the biting portions,

one ofesaid jackingmeans being pivota-llysup? per-ted {in-said one jaw member.

VLADIMIR, N. LABOUNSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The: fol-lowing-v references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number; Name Date 227-,686 Goodrichwfie May 18,1880 442,-2-33- Shampel Dec- 16, 1890 591,164 Golar Oct. 5, 1897 710,544 Wandell- Oct. '7, 1902 828,787 Van Cauwenbergh Aug. 14, 1906' 953,928 Rowe Apr. 5-, 1910 1,205,409 Swink Nov. 21,- 1916 1,335,588 I McCoy Mar.'30,-1920 1,443,052 Stephens Jan. 23, 1923 1,653 -,715-- Lynch Dec. 27,1927 2,169,898 Minderman' Aug, 15, 1939: 2,299,147; v Janousek- Oct. 20,1948

' Y FOREIGN PATEN'IS Number. Country Date Switzerland .Oct 1, 1919'v 

